Mid 20th Century Crystal Oyster Shell Caviar Dish With Mother of Pearl & Whelk Shell Spoon

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…There are objects that carry the memory of rooms — of white-gloved service, of candlelight catching crystal, of caviar presented … Read more …There are objects that carry the memory of rooms — of white-gloved service, of candlelight catching crystal, of caviar presented as the punctuation to a long evening of consequence. This exquisite caviar service is one such object.

The dish is pressed crystal molded in the form of an oyster shell — organic and architectural at once, its translucent walls catching the light with a ghostly iridescence. At approximately 8 × 6 inches, it is precisely scaled for ceremonial presentation.

The spoon is a marvel of natural materials: a polished oval of luminous mother-of-pearl forms the bowl, affixed by a delicately engraved silver collar to a handle fashioned from a natural whelk shell in warm cream and blush tones. 5" aprox.

Provenance: Acquired at a private estate sale in East Hampton, NY, from a distinguished diplomatic family who lived abroad for more than forty years — posted across Europe, Asia, and the Americas — and collected with the quiet confidence of those who have seen the world's finest things up close See less